10 essentials for your retirement plan

Financial security in retirement doesn’t just happen. It takes planning and commitment and, yes, money. According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, the average American spends 20 years in retirement and fewer than half of Americans have calculated how much they need to save for retirement. In 2010, 30% of private industry workers with access to a defined contribution plan (such as a 401(k) plan) didn't participate, according to the DOL. The agency puts out a number of publications to support Americans in planning for their retirement, and offers these 10 ways to prepare:

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1. Start saving, keep saving and stick to your goals

If you are already saving, whether for retirement or another goal, keep going. You know that saving is a rewarding habit. If you’re not saving, it’s time to get started. Start small if you have to and try to increase the amount you save each month. The sooner you start saving, the more time your money has to grow. See a chart showing the potential growth of your savings. Make saving for retirement a priority. Devise a plan, stick to it, and set goals.

3. Contribute to your employer’s retirement savings plan

If your employer offers a retirement savings plan, such as a 401(k) plan, sign up and contribute all you can. Your taxes will be lower, your company may kick in more, and automatic deductions make it easy. Over time, compound interest and tax deferrals make a big difference in the amount you will accumulate. Find out about your plan. For example, how much would you need to contribute to get the full employer contribution and how long would you need to stay in the plan to get that money?

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4. Learn about your employer’s pension plan

If your employer has a traditional pension plan, check to see if you are covered by the plan and understand how it works. Ask for an individual benefit statement to see what your benefit is worth. Before you change jobs, find out what will happen to your pension benefit. Learn what benefits you may have from a previous employer. Find out if you will be entitled to benefits from your spouse’s plan.

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5. Consider basic investment principles

How you save can be as important as how much you save. Inflation and the type of investments you make play important roles in how much you’ll have saved at retirement. Know how your savings or pension plan is invested. Learn about your plan’s investment options and ask questions. Put your savings in different types of investments. By diversifying this way, you are more likely to reduce risk and improve return. Your investment mix may change over time depending on a number of factors such as your age, goals, and financial circumstances.

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6. Don’t touch your retirement savings

If you withdraw your retirement savings now, you’ll lose principal and interest and you may lose tax benefits or have to pay withdrawal penalties. If you change jobs, leave your savings invested in your current retirement plan, or roll them over to an IRA or your new employer’s plan.

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7. Ask your employer to start a plan

If your employer doesn’t offer a retirement plan, suggest that it start one. There are a number of retirement saving plan options available. Your employer may be able to set up a simplified plan that can help both you and your employer. For more information, request a copy of Choosing a Retirement Solution for Your Small Business.

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8. Put money into an individual retirement account

You can put up to $5,000 a year into an IRA; you can contribute even more if you are 50 or older. You can also start with much less. IRAs also provide tax advantages.

When you open an IRA, you have two options: a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. The tax treatment of your contributions and withdrawals will depend on which option you select. Also, the after-tax value of your withdrawal will depend on inflation and the type of IRA you choose. IRAs can provide an easy way to save. You can set it up so that an amount is automatically deducted from your checking or savings account and deposited in the IRA.

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9. Find out about your Social Security benefits

Social Security pays benefits that are on average equal to about 40% of what you earned before retirement. You may be able to estimate your benefit by using the retirement estimator on the Social Security Administration’s website.

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